Bengaluru witnessed a major traffic disruption on Old Airport Road on May 31, 2026, when vehicles were completely halted for nearly 30 minutes due to the movement of the Governor's convoy. The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with citizens questioning the prioritization of VIP convenience over public convenience.
Social Media Outcry
Prominent voices, including former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration. Pai questioned the authorities, writing: "The issue is why was traffic blocked for 30 Mts? @CPBlr @DgpKarnataka why this overreach? Why are citizens treated like subjects and third class people like this? We are a democracy governed by rule of law and egalitarian. @DrParameshwara our Minister should review process."
Another user, Prajval Prince, shared a video of the gridlock, highlighting a man carrying his pregnant wife who was stuck in the traffic. Prince tweeted: "Old Airport Road is already choking under underpass construction. Today, traffic was completely halted for nearly 30 minutes due to the Governor's movement. A man carrying his pregnant wife was stuck in the gridlock. When will public convenience matter as much as VIP convenience?"
Counterpoints and Clarifications
However, not all users agreed with the criticism. A user named paramu countered: "I have encountered governor convoy multiple times, hardly they take 10 min. This traffic was due to some construction. Everything is not politics. Blaming police who work tirelessly without checking facts is not good." This suggests that the traffic jam might have been exacerbated by ongoing underpass construction on the road, which is already a choke point.
Demand for Review
Despite the differing views, the incident has reignited debates about VIP culture in India and the need for better traffic management during high-profile movements. Calls for Karnataka's Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara to review protocols have grown louder, with citizens demanding that public convenience be given equal importance.
